HUMAN HERPESVIRUS-6 INFECTION IN CHILDREN WITH FIRST FEBRILE SEIZURES

We evaluated febrile convulsions prospectively in 42 children to inves tigate the association between acute human herpesvirus-6 (HHV-6) infec tion and first-time febrile convulsions, using both virologic and sero logic methods. Eight children had primary HHV-6 infection documented b y viral culture and an additional three by acute- and convalescent-pha se serologic studies. These findings indicate that acute HHV-6 infecti on is a frequent cause of febrile convulsions in young children.